After 43 years of working for sustained social change in Minnesota, Community Shares of Minnesota (CSM) will close in the spring of 2022. After much deliberation, soul searching, and analysis, the CSM Board of Directors and staff came to accept that the responsible action is to sunset over the next year. Workplace giving has faced a strong and steady decline over the last few decades, and it has recently become clear that the work we have put into staying afloat is no longer sustainable.

There are no changes as far as the 2020-2021 campaign year. We will be processing all payroll deductions made in 2021 just like any other year – all donor designations will continue to be honored. We will also be accepting donations until March 2022. We are not, however, be participating in the current 2021-2022 fall giving campaign.

Although we are heartbroken that this long chapter has come to an end, we also want to recognize and celebrate your support of Community Shares over the years. Because of you, we have distributed over $25 million to social justice organizations in Minnesota and successfully contributed to changing the greater narrative around philanthropic giving. When we incorporated as the Cooperating Fund Drive 43 years ago, donors didn’t have all of the options that exist today. We served a key role in connecting donors to the causes they cared about. Today, many donors no longer need Community Shares to facilitate this relationship, because they are motivated to stay informed about current social issues and stay engaged with local organizations. This is something we can all be proud of.

We do, however, want to ensure that our member charities continue to receive this essential funding. If you have supported our members in the past, we strongly encourage you to find another way to do so. Click here to see a list of our members and with links to their donation pages. Please consider initiating a recurring monthly gift. If you need help with this, please let us know!

It has been an honor and a privilege to partner with you. The meaningful memories and relationships that we have made while working with all of our constituents will last far beyond the final days of Community Shares. We are truly grateful for your support.

Thank you,

 

 

Maureen Hartung
Executive Director
Community Shares of Minnesota